Mum G and I were off for her 3rd and my 15th trip to The land of smiles.We arrived at the airport at 5am on 15/8/09 for the 7.15am flight - straight away we knew something wasn't right - when we got to the check in counter we were advised that our plane was delayed by 5 hours and had not even left Bali yet.Great start to our 1 week away - now I would miss my prebooked appointment at ARC. At 10.30 am we boarded the plane and I decided to start our holiday 5 glasses of wine later all was forgiven and I was having a good time. When we arrived we were getting ready to run to the first desk when mum spots a guy with a board with my name on it. I turns out its Hadi I had prebooked him about a month before and he had said reconfirm when it gets closer - but as I had read on the forum that I was not much of a service anymore I didn't reconfirm but here he was. I decided that seeing he was there might as well use him so we were out of the airport in 10 mins and in a cab on the way to the Mecure Kuta.We usually stay at the kuta Seaview but it was full. After checking in we rocked up to the seaview to see some of our friends - the place was packed heeps more staff and no one we knew so we had a cocktail at the bar to toast the start of our holiday. I was pretty merry at this stage so we decided to go for a walk hoping some of the alcohol would wear off. Next stop was the art market I needed a painting - I bought one I think I paid 200,000 but can't remember. Then we jumped a cab to a friends warung it was time for food - Wali Warung is near Coconut beach hotel - Its owned by my swedish friend and her balinese husband. As usual they were glad to see us and we had dinner there as well as a few rounds of arak. By the time we left I was staggering, eventually we found a cab and It was back to The hotel and time for bed. Day 2 begins with my head in the toilet and mum saying what a good time she had last night (if only I could remember). We set out for a walk along the beach and after 1/2 an hour I am feeling better we decide to find Biku for breakfast so we keep walking and walking and walking an hour later we are completly lost and starving so we find a cab and explain where we want to go. 2mins in the cab and we are there and the cab driver wants $50 aud (i just laugh - should have talked about a price before getting in - too hungover and too hungry) in the end I hand him 50,000 and say that it and get out of the cab. Biku what a haven, the reason that we went to Biku was so we could book in for their tea leaf reading on Thursday but find out its only on Sunday so it looks like we are here for breakfast and back for arvo tea. We eat breakfast and head off again this time in a cab then we cab it back for high tea at 2pm. The high tea food was just lovley - tea in china cups little sandwiches, scones and little tarts. Then the tealeaf reading starts mum went first, you have to ask the tea leaves 3 questions 1 at a time and they reveal the answers. Mum was happy with her reading then it was my turn, well I have no questions - I have a good life a great husband no money troubles so what do I ask? am I going to win lotto ? haha. In the end I just asked the leaves to reveal what they wanted needless to say I just got general sort of answer (what did I expect). So if you do go for the readings have your questions ready. Dinnner tonight was at the pizza hut next to the hotel not feeling the best at this stage - time for bed. I forgot to mention between breakfast and lunch we ended up at Bubba gumps mum had a milkshake and I ordered a margarita hair of the dog its got to work right - again didn't look at the price so a drink arrives with its dancing and singing servers to deliver a margarita big enough for at least 4 drinks with a cost of 250,000 - when will i learn. Day 3 Today its off to ARC - grab a cab drive out there to find out it independance day and its closed go to Galleria instead and spend a few hours shopping then its back to the hotel to lay round the pool - can't rember where we ate . Day 4 its off to Ubud for our sound massage - Nyoman (Paul Newman)arrives and off we go, Nyoman is Yuli's brother (had booked Yuli) she had an accident so she sent her brother 300,000 for the day. Nyoman has a nice van and has lived in Aust so speaks good english. We arrive at light and sound place on Tegal Sari drive way and are taken to our massage room. Mum and I are in the same room laying on our backs in front of a 3mtr wide gong. Then it starts - bowls are balanced on various parts of your body and tapped and alternately the big gong is banged - the vibrations travel through you body - both of us went to sleep and we both got something different out of it and yes I would do it again. After the massage we asked Nyoman to take us to Tengallal? sp shopping. When we arrived we were both so relaxed we couldn't be bothered getting out of the car so told Nyoman to find a coffee shop instead. He found Cafe Moka (french I think) with great coffee and fabulous pastries. Time to go back to the hotel I think - brain is not working - half way back I ask if nyoman could go via ARC. Its open I go in to make an appointment but they can't fit me in for a week then I look down at the appointment book and see my name they had made another appointment but didn't tell me - anyway an appointment was made for the next day ---- to be continued